From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (June 24, 2023) — A switch from turf to dirt proved no issue for favored Kings River Knight in the $100,500 Bertrando Stakes for Golden state Series eligibles Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Four weeks after a gate-to-wire victory in the Crystal Water on the Santa Anita grass, the 5-year-old Acclamation gelding used similar tactics to defeat Lovesick Blues and four others in the race restricted to horses bred or sired in California.
Bred by Old English Rancho and trained by John Sadler for Integrity Thoroughbred Racing LLC, the Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde, Kings River Knight, who is by Acclimation out of the Poteen mare Seasontobeperfection, prevailed in 1:35.31 for the one mile.
The win was the fifth for the 8-5 choice, who has been worse than second only once in 10 starts. He’s now earned $296,260.
Able to outrun longshot Positivity for the early lead, Kings River Knight, who had finished second – when trained by Andy Mathis – in his career debut last June 26 at Pleasanton in his only previous race on dirt, relaxed nicely under Hernandez, kicked two lengths clear with an eighth of a mile to run and maintained that advantage to the wire.
“I thought it was a really good run for him,’’ said Juan Leyva, Sadler’s assistant trainer. “He’s a real honest horse and he just likes to run. He fires every time.
“We were hoping to be on the lead. He just likes being in front and taking it easy.
“A lot of turf horses take to this track so that’s why we took a chance here. The timing was good with the next race ($150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 5) at Del Mar.’’
The Bertrando victory was the third in the last four years for Hernandez. The circuit’s leading rider won the 2020 renewal – for Sadler – with Galilean and scored in 2022 with Desmond Doss, who finished fifth Saturday in his quest to win the race for a third consecutive time for owner-breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi.
“This horse is very sharp right now,’’ said Hernandez of the winner. “He always breaks fast and he was real comfortable on the lead. You don’t want to ask them too soon with the long stretch, so I just waited until we straightened and he really gave me a nice kick.’’
Kings River Knight paid $5.20, $3 and $2.40.
Lovesick Blues, a stablemate of Desmond Doss, finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of 8-1 shot Coalinga Road as the 3-1 second choice. He returned $3.40 and $2.20 while the show price on Coalinga Road was $3.40.
Positivity, Desmond Doss and None Above the Law completed the order of finish.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.